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UN Experts Urge India to Investigate Alleged Excessive Force Against Protesters

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UN experts have called for an impartial investigation into alleged excessive force and reported rights violations during protests in India.

UN Experts Urge India to Investigate Alleged Excessive Force During Protests

Dateline: New Delhi / Geneva

United Nations independent human-rights experts have urged Indian authorities to stop the alleged use of excessive force against protesters and called for an impartial investigation into reported abuses.

In a statement reported by Reuters on October 20, the experts raised concerns about allegations involving unarmed students and other demonstrators. The reported concerns included baton charges, injuries, alleged ill-treatment, restrictions on peaceful assembly, digital surveillance, biometric monitoring and internet disruptions.

The demonstrations are connected to opposition to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demands for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Critics of the revision process say that large numbers of names risk being removed from electoral rolls, potentially affecting eligible voters. The Election Commission maintains that revisions are intended to remove ineligible entries and says people who believe they have been wrongly excluded can use the applicable procedures to seek inclusion.

The UN experts' concerns are significant because freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are recognised human rights. Law-enforcement agencies must balance public safety with the protection of peaceful demonstrators, and any allegations of unlawful force require appropriate investigation.

However, a statement from independent UN experts is not the same as a court judgment establishing that every allegation is true. Specific claims about injuries, surveillance or mistreatment should be assessed using available evidence, witness accounts and the findings of any independent inquiry.

The Indian government has rejected UN criticism as interference in domestic affairs, according to Reuters. The dispute illustrates the continuing tension between international human-rights scrutiny and the Indian government's position on domestic law enforcement.

The broader issue extends beyond a single demonstration: how can authorities maintain public order while protecting citizens' rights to protest peacefully and participate in democratic processes?

Why it matters: The issue could affect India's international human-rights debate and scrutiny of how demonstrations are handled.

Sources: Reuters — UN experts urge India to investigate alleged excessive force | Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

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